My skin would not normally be described as “glowy” or “even” or any other nice adjective that usually means you’re well rested, well hydrated, or genetically blessed. To be fair, my complexion is much improved from the swaths of hormonal acne of my teens and early (and—ahem—mid) twenties. But I still have scarring and other forms of hyperpigmentation along my jawline and rarely go blemish-free for more than three days in a row. I have large pores in my T-zone and, this winter, wore perpetually rosy dry patches on the tops of my cheeks.
Don’t get me wrong: I take care of my skin with an exacting regimen that I never skip, even after (especially after) late nights and one too many margaritas. I get facials every so often, which I almost always leave looking my best—pump, glowing, relaxed—but those results don’t always last until the next day, let alone through the next week. And then, a couple of weeks ago, I made my way to New York’s Upper East Side to try Valmont’s Purity of the Alps facial at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, one of only two US spa locations for the Swiss brand.
The 45-minute service features Valmont’s Purity collection, which includes four new products that launched in early March. The products, all focused on cleansing, are enhanced with Valmont’s mineral-rich, Swiss glacial spring water and cater to the diverse ecosystem of the skin, which, just like the gut, is home to countless good-for-you bacteria to keep things in check. Without getting too scientific, Valmont’s cleansers feed the skin a collection of pre- and probiotics, which strengthen the microbiome and create a healthier, well-balanced complexion.
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In my private suite at Spa Valmont, complete with plush armchairs and a personal washroom, my esthetician began by double cleansing with the new Icy Falls jelly makeup remover and the hydrating Bubble Falls, a light, foaming cleanser. (If available, ask for Enzie; her skin is flawless enough to spark a bit of jealousy, until you remember she’s there to help you achieve similar results.) After more cleansing, exfoliating, clarifying, toning, and, finally, moisturizing, I left the Plaza Athénée looking truly radiant. That’s all wonderful, of course, but it gets better: My complexion, which, as I’ve already mentioned, is not particularly cooperative, continued to improve as the week went on. As of this writing, I’m six days post-facial and even more luminous than when I stepped out onto Madison Avenue a week ago.
